I only found mud, mother-nature and a sky full with stars instead of having any park
HYDERABAD: When I was born, elderly women from my neighbourhood welcomed me. My parents couldn’t find a clean and professionally sound hospital where dedicated people not only welcomed my new life but also ensure the safety of my mother. I was the third child of my parents. My elder brother had died due to diarrhoea, which was at that time difficult to be treated. Faced with these miseries, my mother gave birth to six more sisters and brothers, in the same house with the same faces of elderly women known traditionally as birth attendants. I only found mud, mother-nature and a sky full with stars instead of having any park. The only option I had was a government primary school where the economically privileged were awarded front seats while the poor were backbenchers. I was made to compete with the children of cities. The latter had endless options.
Through thick and thin I completed my elementary education. I was offered a job not on the basis of education, and skills or my aptitude but on the basis of my relationship. I am one who constantly has to prove credibility and dedication every moment of life to everyone around. I am someone who fears, and knows that life is in danger, not only because of terrorists or killings, but because even a single mosquito can unfold the realities of poor services provided by the people whom I elected to serve me. I am the one who is most affected in hatred by society just because of language, caste, creed, socio-economic status and religious belief. Every day I live in danger, not knowing the reason why I may be targeted. I am the one whose religion is questioned by people who don’t even understand the basics of any faith.
A common man can be special if we as a nation come forward, raise voice against every wrong and help our nation grow with knowledge and skill rather than money and power.
Zaheer Udin Babar Junejo
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2019.
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